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Glite Dictionary
short bone

short bone

6.0
A bone about as long as it is wide and thick, found in the wrist and ankle
  • noun
  • /ʃɔrt boʊn/
  • Specialized
translation icon : hueso corto
  • Unlike long bones, short bones provide support and stability with little movement.

Examples

  • The short bone in the wrist helps with flexibility.

  • The tarsal bones of the ankle are a typical example of a short bone.

  • The carpals in the human wrist are classified as short bones because of their equal dimensions.

  • Many short bones are found in the human body.

  • The carpals are a group of short bones found in the wrist.

  • The tarsal bones in the ankle are examples of short bones that help with stability.

  • In human anatomy, short bones are notable for their equal dimensions and strength.

Synonyms

os breve
vsshort bone
  • Specialized
9.9

A short bone like a wrist or ankle bone

is the same concept but expressed using an alternative term

Antonyms

long bone
  • Specialized
2 3.6

A long hard part inside the arm or leg like the femur that has a soft center

Surface Forms

short bone singular
short bones plural

Morphology

short + bone

The noun phrase is a straightforward adjective + noun combination: a B1 learner who knows 'short' and 'bone' will readily infer it refers to a bone that is small/limited in length or dimensions. While the precise anatomical classification (roughly equal length, width and thickness) is specialist detail, the core meaning is fully compositional and cross-linguistically predictable.

Etymology

The term short bone names the small, boxy bones in the wrist and ankle. This comes from the literal image: a short bone is about as wide as it is long, so it gives 'support and stability' rather than long movement.